The Detroit Lions rebounded during Week 2 in a big way. The team’s offense, which became an enormous concern for NFL pundits after the season opener, scored 52 points and tallied 511 yards in a blowout victory against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
On the other side of the ball, the Lions made Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams uncomfortable with a balanced pass rush. Detroit posted four sacks, with four different defenders registering each one.
But Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox still sees edge rusher as a need for the Lions. Entering Week 3, Knox named the Lions one of two potential suitors for Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The Bleacher Report analyst included Thibodeaux on his trade block because the New York Giants have started the season 0-2.
The Giants could look to cash in the 24-year-old before the trade deadline if they can’t start stringing some wins together. Sunday’s overtime loss to Dallas is the sort of game that teases a breakthrough, but if New York doesn’t actually get one, big changes could be coming,” wrote Knox.
Since helping guide the Giants to the playoffs in 2022, head coach Brian Daboll has gone 9-27.
“Trading Thibodeaux to a contender this year could give New York the sort of draft capital that would be extremely valuable for a new, rebuilding front office.”
Thibodeaux has 1.5 sacks with 7 combined tackles, including 2 tackles for loss and 3 quarterback hits this season. His best statistical campaign was two years when he had 11.5 sacks with 12 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits.
The Giants drafted Thibodeaux at No. 5 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Could Lions Target Kayvon Thibodeaux on NFL Trade Market?
After a greatly disappointing Week 1, a lot went right for the Lions in the home opener against the Bears, including the team’s pass rush. Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Brian Branch each had a sack.
But Davenport exited the victory with ankle and shoulder injuries. The seriousness of the ailments is unclear.
“Nothing new there,” Campbell said on 97.1 The Ticket on Wednesday morning. “I’m probably not going to know until the end of the week.”
On the radio, Campbell then went on to stress how confident he is the team’s edge rushing depth. Muhammad and Tyrus Wheat are Detroit’s second-team edge rushers behind Hutchinson and Davenport.
But pundits linked the Lions to edge rushers such as Trey Hendrickson and others on the hypothetical trade market during the offseason. Davenport being banged up will only ignite more rumors.
Knox didn’t propose a trade, but he projected Thibodeaux to be worth a 2026 second-round pick. The Lions could be willing to part with that draft capital if they view Thibodeaux as an immediate upgrade who could help them earn the team’s first Super Bowl berth.
Will Giants Trade Thibodeaux This Season?
Based on Campbell’s response about the team’s edge rushing depth on the radio Wednesday, the Lions may have to suffer another injury to shop for a player such as Thibodeaux.
But it’s also not clear Thibodeaux will be on the market before the NFL trade deadline on November 5.
Knox argued the former top five pick could be traded because the Giants are already committed to veteran edge rusher Brian Burns through 2028. Furthermore, rookie Abdul Carter is on his affordable first NFL contract through at least the same season.
But the Giants picked up the fifth year of Thibodeaux’s rookie deal this past offseason. So, he won’t become a free agent until 2027.
New York trading the 24-year-old might not be out of the question. But it doesn’t have to be before the 2025 NFL trade deadline.
The Giants could always move him in the offseason. Or, they could see how the 2026 campaign starts and then deal the edge rusher before the 2026 deadline if the team isn’t contending.
In 45 NFL games, Thibodeaux has posted 22.5 sacks. He’s also registered 28 tackles for loss, 49 quarterback hits, 11 pass defenses and six forced fumbles.
Knox also named the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a potential trade suitor for Thibodeaux.
Lions Named Potential Suitor for Former Top 5 Edge Rusher